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Blending a Berry Oaty Smoothie

Today I honor the blender. Essential for making morning time smoothies, good gazpacho, silky hummus or grinding coffee beans for a fresh cup of coffee, the blender is indispensable in any kitchen. If you want to do away with kitchen gadgets, the blender is a fantastic multi-tasker: it can take on a spice grinder, a coffee grinder, even a food processor or mixer. This morning I reached for the blender to make a refreshing summertime smoothie and remembered the origins of my particular blender: the Osterizer Galaxie Pulse Matic 10.
I remember sitting with Papi and Carolina in the living room when Carolina got up and ceremoniously brought over a large unwrapped box and placed it on the floor in front of us. From the box, I could guess that it was a blender that must have been manufactured around the late seventies or early eighties. It was a surprise to see this intact, never scuffed, seal unbroken, dust-free blender box on the floor in front of us. This blender, despite its twenty or more years in existence, had never been used but carefully kept.
This was Spring 2001 and no particular occasion for gift giving. We had driven up to see how Papi was recovering from his liver transplant surgery. We drove up from the city and arrived late at night. He had waited up for us and greeted us at the door. He aged 20 years in a matter of weeks after his surgery. I could see my grandfather Abuelo Paco’s features clearly in his aged face: a receding hairline, thin wrinkles on his forehead and kind loving eyes, weary from the enormous battle he had endured.
They explained that the blender was given to them as a wedding present and that they
never had any use for it and wondered if we would like to have it. We pulled it out of the box and it was a chrome plated beauty with a heavy glass jar. We had recently moved to the city and didn’t have a blender, so we gratefully accepted.
At the time I did not know this would be the last gift my father would give me. Perhaps because it holds such a place, the Osterizer Galaxie Pulse Matic 10 blender is an object of mystery to me. Every time I use it, I remember my father. I wonder who gave them this wedding present. I wonder when Papi and Carolina got married and who attended. And, what compelled them to care and carry this particular wedding gift for over twenty years without ever opening it or using it?
Today I use my vintage blender to make a light summertime berry smoothie with oats, the smoothie version of my Everyday Breakfast. Cool, refreshing and satisfying. Enjoy one for breakfast or when you need a boost anytime of the day. See my notes about yogurt here. I like my smoothies, thick and icy, but you might prefer yours a little thinner. Simply add more or less liquid as you are blending until you get the right consistency.Berry Oaty Smoothie
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup soy milk
2 tablespoons rolled oats
1 tablespoon honey
2 cups ice cubes
1. Purée all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Serve.
Makes 2 servings.